gen-define-an-ecosystem-food-web-and-give-one-short-worked-examp-7d8a

Define an ecosystem food web and give one short worked example.

# Ecosystem Food Web ## Definition A **food web** is a network of interconnected food chains showing the feeding relationships between multiple organisms in an ecosystem. Unlike a simple food chain (which shows a single linear pathway), a food web illustrates how energy and nutrients flow through various pathways, with most organisms eating multiple food sources and being consumed by multiple predators. ## Worked Example: Simple Pond Food Web **Organisms:** - Algae (producer) - Zooplankton (primary consumer) - Small fish like minnows (secondary consumer) - Large fish like bass (tertiary consumer) - Heron (top predator) **Connections:** - Algae → Zooplankton → Small fish → Bass → Heron - Algae → Small fish → Bass → Heron - Algae → Zooplankton → Bass → Heron **Key point:** The bass can feed at multiple levels (eating both zooplankton and small fish), and energy reaches the bass through different pathways. If one food source declines (e.g., zooplankton), the bass can rely more heavily on small fish, making the ecosystem more resilient than a simple chain would be.